Synthesis and characterization of ethidium analogs: Emphasis on amino and azido substituents

A series of eight ethidium derivatives has been synthesized in which the substituents at R 3 and R 8 have been varied with hydrogen, azido and amino functions. Three of these compounds are new and their synthesis and characterization by uv‐visible, ir and 1 H nmr spectroscopy are presented. The synthesis and characterization of the other compounds are also given for comparison, because the compounds served as precursors, or the synthetic route undertaken for these compounds differed from that reported previously.